Brian and MaryAnn first met on Bumble, an online dating site, in 2016, and had their first date on July 6th. Little did they know it would be the last first date they would ever go on. Brian texted MaryAnn on the fourth of July to arrange a date. They met on the 6th at The Heights Bar & Grill in Morningside Heights for nachos and margaritas. It was here that they discovered that they had been neighbors four years previous (on 108th between Broadway and Amsterdam). MaryAnn was immediately taken with Brian and his genuine smile, great conversation, and openness to new things. Brian couldn't believe his luck that somebody as beautiful, funny and thoughtful as MaryAnn had agreed to go out with him. He mentioned that he had been taking salsa lessons, and for their second date, he took her to his salsa school's Friday night dance one week later. MaryAnn searched YouTube to pick up some beginner steps. However, she didn't realize that Brian had been taking salsa on-2 lessons--she had been watching salsa on-1! Brian showed off his newfound dance skills, and MaryAnn picked up the steps immediately! For their third date, Brian planned an epic day-long date (that, spoiler alert, became the inspiration for his proposal). The pair spent the day at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens, followed by dinner at the Red Hook Lobster Pound and live bluegrass music at Sunny's Bar in Red Hook. After that date, MaryAnn and Brian decided to become exclusive together, kicking off a whirlwind romance. From Christmas and New Year's spent in Paris and London, a family trip to Italy, heading to Niagara Falls in -14 degree weather, and going to Syracuse (Brian's alma mater) to cheer on the Orange, to adopting Franklin and Marshall (their polydactyl cats), there's always something new and exciting in their lives (and they prefer it that way!). MaryAnn and Brian are always ready for their next adventure, wherever that may be, and in 2019, that means a trip down the aisle!

Brian surprised MaryAnn by proposing on September 15th, 2018. They were in Westchester that morning with Brian's family, and then drove to Crown Heights for lunch at Barboncino before going to the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens to recreate their third date (their favorite). Brian kept checking his phone during lunch, and MaryAnn thought it was just work-related. It turned out to be the proposal photographer Brian had hired to captured the big moment. The place where Brian was going to propose (the Whispering Benches in the gardens) was closed for a renovation, so they had to brainstorm an alternative plan. After lunch, Brian and MaryAnn walked through the Botanic Gardens and went to the rose garden section instead. While standing in the pavilion overlooking the flowers, Brian got down on one knee and proposed! MaryAnn was so surprised and excited. She said yes (of course). After they had called their parents and close family, they went to dinner at the Red Hook Lobster Pound with their closest friends to announce their engagement, followed by a night of live bluegrass at Sunny's Bar.